Robert Gene Barnard

Robert Gene Barnard, 86, of Liberty, made his transition on August 7, 2017 at Whitewater Commons Senior Living. Born March 27, 1931, he was the son of Parris and Ruth Shepler Barnard. A member of the old Greenwood School’s last first grade class in 1937, he graduated from Short High School, Liberty, IN, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and an FFA Hoosier Farmer, and from Purdue University where he was in the band, a member of Ceres Honorary Fraternity, and on the Distinguished Student List. After serving in the U.S. Air Force at Sandia Base, Albuquerque, NM, he worked at Indianapolis Life Insurance Co. as assistant manager of its tabulating department. Bob received a Master of Divinity degree from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, OH, in 1970. While in seminary he was an intern at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco, CA. Following graduation he served in the South Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church at churches in Columbia and Orange in Fayette County, and University, Roberts Park, and Southport in Indianapolis. Later he was an AIDS Program Consultant with the Indiana Department of Health where he was the first trainer of HIV-AIDS counselors at the state’s anonymous AIDS testing sites. Bob also worked in furniture sales and interior design. He was part owner of Fosdick Interiors, Liberty, for several years, and also worked at stores in West Chester, OH, Southport, Noblesville, and Carmel. After returning to Liberty he was a driver for Union County Transit until his retirement in 1993. He was a greeter for Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Liberty, for several years. He was a trustee of the Union County Public Library for sixteen years, served as treasurer, and was a member of the library’s book discussion group and Friends of the Library from which he received the Golden Bee Award in 1996 for his years of support of the library. He also represented Union County on the advisory board of the 2-1-1 Information and Referral Service for eastern Indiana. Bob loved music and was a supporter of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for over thirty years. He enjoyed antique and classic cars and served many years as president of the Hoosier Heritage Chapter of the Society of Automotive Historians. While in Indianapolis he organized the Indiana chapter of Lambda Car Club. He was a model car builder and collector of old car memorabilia. He enjoyed doing counted cross stitch and had won several championship awards in the Union County Fair’s open class. He was a member of the Indiana Historical Society as well as the Union County Historical Society where he was noted for his contribution of peanut butter pies to its annual bake sale at the Liberty Festival. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents Claude and Blanche Parris Barnard, Arthur (Tom) and Nora John Shepler. He is survived by an aunt, Letha Shepler, several cousins, and many friends. Friends and relatives are invited to a graveside memorial service at West Point Cemetery, Liberty, on Saturday, August 19, at 11:00 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Union County Public Library or the Greenwood United Methodist Church. Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Fosdick Chape, in Liberty is in charge of arrangements. For More information or to send condolences or memories, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.